Insulating apparatus for bathtubs



`luly l5, 1952 H. K. PHILLlPs INSULATING APPARATUS FOR BIATHTUBS 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 26. 1949 HAQDY ZL DH/LL/DS INVENTOR.

ATTO/MEV July l5, 1952 Filed July 26, 1949 HK. PHILLIPS INSULATINGAPPARATUS FOR BATHTUBS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 HAQDY K. DH/LL/PS INVENTOR.

ATTOQNEY Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ApplicationJuly 26, 1949, Serial No.106,779

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bath tubs, lavoratories and other analogousreceptacles and more especially to an improved insulating apparatustherefor for minimizing heat losses.

Bath tubs and the like formed of sheet metal are not in demand by thepublic comparable to the demand for cast iron bath tubs, particularlydue to the heat of the contents of the sheet metal bathtub beingdissipated at a relatively fast rate through the thin sheet metal due tothe fact that the sheet metal does not have an insulating eifect againstthe contents of the bath tub. However, since sheet metal bath tubs may,obviously, be more economically produced than cast iron bath tubs andare also light in weight in comparison to cast iron bath tubs, theaddition of an insulation material to the outer surfaces of the sheetmetal bath tub, Without the necessity of excessive modifications in thebath tub itself, is a very desirable feature.

The heat of the water drawn into a cast iron tub of usually about 500pounds weight is absorbed by the cold iron tub so fast that before thenormal bath is completed water temperature drops from a comfortable toan uncomfortable temperature while the heat thus absorbed flows throughthe'heavy mass of iron and is absorbed, conducted and dissipatedthroughout the tub and its vertically disposed front wall therebylowering the temperature of the bath water. Insula- 1 tion of theexterior of such a tub would be of little value in conserving the heatof the water.

v On the other hand, steel, enameled steel, plastic or other thin tubsinsulated as herein described, and requiring less hot water yto heat theapproximate 100 pounds weight thereof, and conserving that heat fromconduction, radiation and dissipation into adjacent areas because of thelow heat transfer rate of insulated sheet metal or plastic, wouldcomprise a substantial improvement over insulated or non-insulated castiron tubs. Further the lower conductive rate of flow of heat along thinmetal or plastic construction compared to the speedy flow and drainingaway of heat through heavy cast iron would save the user an appreciableamount in the cost of heating water.

Itis therefore an object of this invention to provide a preformed net orbasket of screen wire, perforated sheet metal or strips of sheet metal,plastic, fabric or sheets of any foraminated material, thev shape ofwhich conforms generally to the shape of the exterior of the bath tubbut which is somewhat larger than the bath tub so 2 of the bath tub andthe inner surface of the basket and in which space a suitable insulationmaterial, preferably fiberglass insulation material, may be disposed.The most important feature in the use of a basket of the type described,for supporting the insulation material and hold, ing the same againstthe outer surface of the bath tub, is that it minimizes condensation andavoids the accumulation of moisture in the insulation material whichwould, of course, destroy its heat conserving effect in bringing thereceptacle to a desired temperature -in accordance with itsicontents.

It is obvious that vby insulating a sheet metal bath tub in the mannerdescribed, the weight 'of the finished product would not be materiallyincreased from the weight of the bath tub before the insulating materialhad been applied thereto. This, of course, would add greatly to thevalue of the product and its desirability by the public, as well asextending the life of the tub, at a much lower cost than has heretoforebeen possible.

Furthermore, the use of insulating material packed between the basketand the tub serves to reinforce the sheet metal and thus makesthe use ofa relatively thin sheet metal for bath tubs possible. i l

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when takenin connection Awiththe accompanying drawings, in whichs Figure 1 is a top plan view showingone type of bath tub or receptacle with which they present invention isadapted to be associated; ,fr

Figure 2` is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line2-2 in Figure 1 and showing one form of basket connectedv to the bathtub for supporting the insulation material against the outer surface ofthe bath tub;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken Aalong the line 33 in Figure 1 and also showing the form of basket for'supporting ytheinsulation material illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View similar to Figure 3 but showinganother form of basket 4which may be used for supporting the insulationmaterial;

Figure 5 is-an enlarged elevation showing a. portion of the type ofmaterial from which' the basket is made in Figure 4;

Figure 61s a bottom view showing another form of bath tub havingreinforcing members thereon and showing the manner in which a sectionalbasket is applied to the outer surfaces of the yas to provide a spacebetween the outer surface 55 bathtub; Y n

of a type in which no reinforcing members are employed but is providedwith a vertically disl posed front wall portion I5 depending from'theflange I3 at the front of the tub I0. The lower edge of the side wallportion I5 rests on a floor e F and the endmost flanges I I and I2 andthe rear flange I4 are supported on frame members 20, 2I and22,respectively, suitably secured to the walls of the building indicatedat W. A It will be noted that the vfianges II, I2 and I4 are placedagainst the. walls Wand the outer surfaces of the side 'walls and bottomof the tub I0 arefspaced apart frornvthe walls W and the floor F. Thebottom o'f the tub jIIl fis provided with the usual drain "opening andthe vertical wall adjacent the 'same 'is provided with the usualoveriiow open vingjZI. k

The structure 'heretofore described exemplifies tlie'usual types ofmetal bath tubs and it is with the above .thatlthe forms of the presentinvention shown in Figures .1 to 5, inclusive,V are adapted to be.associated.v It is to be understood however, Y

that the structural vfeatures herein disclosed relative to the tub arenot to be considered as restricting .the invention `to a tub since thepresent invention may beempl'oyed with equal advantage .with other sheetmetal receptacles such as wash basins, sinks, lavoratories andthe like.

`In order to accommodate .the means for supporting the insulationmaterial, a lplurality of spaced hook` members .are secured,vas.bywelding, to the outer surfaces of the bath tub and arranged in a row asubstantial distance below theflanges II to I4, inclusive.. InFigures 2and y3 there is shown a -basket 3| of a singlepiece of material such asscreen wire or which may be of a woven wire such as is used for metallath in building construction. It will be noted that this .basketlconformsgenerally to the shape ofthe outer surfaces ofthe tub IB exceptthat it is vmade substantially larger to Yprovide a space in vwhichasuitablevinsulation material-32 such asrock .\voo1,.cork or fiberglass, may be, placed. This insulation .material may be placed against.the outer surfaces of the bath tub IIJ in the formfof bats, or sheets,or in loose form and then the wire basket 3I is placed over theinsulation material and .itsupper edges connected to the hooks A3l).Obviouslyrthe insulating materialr32 andthe 4basketlmust be providedwith suitable coinciding openings v33 and 34 which coincide with theopenings .25 and 25 in the bath tub thus providing access thereto forthe installation therein of appropriate plumbing fixtures. `If a metalscreen or 'other metal foraminated material is employed in forming thebasket 3I, it is preferred that it be treated or finished, asbypainting, to prevent corrosion or rusting of the material.

4Referring yto Figure 4,'there will be observed another form of basketconnected to the hooks 30 `on the bathtub I. This basket is made of asingle piece of preformed sheet metal, or the like,

4 and is indicated at 31. An enlarged detail of a portion of thematerial from which the basket 31 is made is shown in Figure 5. Thematerial 31 is provided with a plurality of openings or perforations 40and since the remainder of the parts associated with the modied form ofbasket 31 in Figure 4 are identical to the parts shown in Figures 1, 2and 3, the same reference characters -shallapply .withthe exceptionofthe basket 31. Referring to Figures, .7' and 8, there is shown stillanother form of the invention which is also applied to a tub which isvery similar to the tub shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 4 and thereforelike parts will bear likereference characters and a further descriptionof the structure of the tub will be given relating only to thereinforcing members shown in association with the tub I0 in Figures G,'1 and 8.

There are many types of tubs which are manufactured with reinforcingmembers thereon similar to thoseshown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In .thisinstance, the tub has a longitudinally'extending reinforcing member 42,opposed-ends of which terminate shortof opposed ends of the tub I0. rlhemember' 42 is provided with spaced projections 43 which extend upwardlyin Figure '1 and are weldedto the lower surface of the tub I 0 thusholding the substantialportion of the reinforcing member 42 in spacedrelation to the tub I0. Welded to opposite ends ,ofv the longitudinallyextending reinforcing member 42 are transverse Areinforcing members 44and 45. which are similar in structure to the longitudinally extendingrelnforcingmeinber 42 in that they are provided with upwardly projectingportions 41 which are spaced apart. from each other and the upper endsof which aresecuredras by welding, to the outer surface of the bottom ofthe bath tub I 0.

It will be noted in Figure 8 that the reinforcing member 45 extends asubstantial distance to the left beyond the lefthand vertical wall ofthe tub II] and is secured, as by welding, to the lower end of the frontwall portion I5 to thus `lend rigidity to the lower end thereof,theupper end of the side wall portion I5, of course, being integral with,or welded to,` the outer edge of the flange I3. The member 45 is mountedin a manner identical to the member 44 (Figure 6). The reinforcingmembers 44 and 45 are spaced a substantial distance inwardly fromopposite ends of the bath tub I0 and therefore there is provided a pairof outwardly ,extending and diverging bracing members 50 and 5I theinner ends of which are welded to remote edges intermediate the ends ofthe reinforcing members 4 4 and 45 and the outer ends of .which arewelded adjacent the eXtreme-outer edges of the .vertical wall member I5to further assist in lending rigidity to the .wall member I5.

These reinforcing members 42, 44, 45, 50 and 5I are conventional` partsof many types of bath tubs and itis with a tub of this type that anothermodified. form of the invention, to be presently described, is adaptedto be associated.

As in the original formof the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, thebath tub ID in Figures 6, '1 and 8 is also provided with a plurality ofspaced hook members 30 to which the meansfor supporting theinsulationfmaterial'is adapted to be connected. The means for supportingthe insulation material is shown as a wire material inFigures 6, '1 and8. Howevenit is to be understood that there are many different types ofmaterialsthat could be used with equal .advantage in lieu of the wirematerial shown,

such materials having been described earlier in the specification.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 differs from theform shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 in that a plurality of sections ofinsulation supporting material are employed, these sections also beingpreformed substantially the same as the single section shown in Figure 2with the exception that end sections 53 and 5d are provided as Well asintermediate sections 55, 5t, and 51 all of which abut one another and,if desired, may be secured together in any desired manner. Thesesections are cut away at the edges thereof to clear the obstructingprojections 43 and 41 on the members 42, 44 and 45. However, thesections 55, 5E and 51 are necessarily bowed slightly as they are slidbetween the projections 43, $4 and 45 and once inserted, they may assumea flattened condition as shown in Figure 7. It is manifest that theinsulation material 32 in Figures 7 and 8 must either be in loose formwhen applied to a bath tub of the type shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 or itmust also be made up in sections conforming generally tc the sizes ofthe sections of insulating supporting material 53 to 51, inclusive. Thepurpose of the sections is obviated by the fact that a single piece ofmaterial could not be applied to the outer surfaces of a bath tub suchas that shown in Figures 6, '1 and 8 due to the interference of thebracing members 42, 44 and 45.

|lhe present means for insulating both tubs and analagous receptaclesmakes the use of a relatively thin sheet metal possible in forming theshell of the receptacle and which would further reduce the cost ofmanufacture of the article. The insulating material would then have tobe of such consistency as to lend strength to the walls and bottom ofthe tub I0.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved means for insulatingsheet metal bath tubs which requires a minimum of modification to theexisting types of bath tubs and which is simple to install and does notincrease the Weight of the bath tub materially. As heretofore stated, itis manifest that the perforation 4b in the material 31, and the openingsin the woven wire material 3| shown in Figures 2 and 3,

or in the material forming the sections 53'to 51, inclusive, in Figures6, 7 and 8 would minimize condensation and would, of course prevent anaccumulation of moisture in the insulation material which wouldthusprevent deterioration of the insulating material and would preserveits insulating properties. It might be stated that not only is theeiciency of the insulating material increased when supported in themanner shown and described, but the wire material, or the material shownin Figure 5, may be of such strength as to also prevent rodents fromgaining access to the insulation material where they might tear it apartor attempt to carry it away.

In the drawings/and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1, An insulating structure for covering the outer surfaces of bath tubsand analogous receptacles comprising a plurality of spaced hookedmembers projecting outwardly from the side walls of the bath tubadjacent the upper end thereof, a basket depending from the hook membersand substantially conforming to the shape of the outer surfaces of thebath tub but being spaced apart from the tub, a fibrous insulationmaterial disposed in the space between the basket and the outer surfaceof the tub, the basket serving to hold the insulation material againstthe outer surfaces of the tub- 2. An improvement in a bath tubcomprising a hollow shell having va centrally located and longitudinallyextending brace member and transverse reinforcing members secured to thebottom thereof, the improvement including means for supporting a brousinsulation material against the outer surfaces of the tub comprising aplurality of preformed sections of foraminated material such as screenwire, ,perforated metal and the like adapted to iit against theinsulation material, the edges of adjacent sections of the foraminatedmaterial being disposed in alinement with the reinforcing members on thebottom of the tub and means for securing the sections of foraminatedmaterial to the side walls of the tub.

HARDY K. PHILLIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,040,786 Ford May 12, 19362,468,347 Restall 1---- Apr. 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 881,715 France Feb. 4, 1943

